Motor-control apparatus



Nov. 18, 1930. B. E. O'HAGAN MO'I 'OR CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1929 I l l l l l I l .l

INVENTOR: B. E 0" Ha an, 7 a 1-1/ way switch.

Patented Nov. 18, 1930 BERNARD" shaman, oF'swIssvaLE, PENNSYLVANIA, nsszonon TO THE UNION SWITCH'-& sIGnAi'; ooMrnNY, or sw ssv ALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPOREiTION OF ,M'OIORQC'ONTROL APPARATUS Application-filed .tui 's, 1929. Serial No. 375,976.

My invention relates to motor control ap paratus.

.I will describe. one torm ofiniotor apparatus, embodying my .lI1Yel1tldl1, and

will then point out the novel features there- The accompanying drawin'gis a diagrammatic viewillustratingpne formof apparatus embodying any,- invention applied to the control: of a motor for operating a rail- -Referring to'the'drawing, the reference character ,M,des ign;atesfian ,electric -motor comprising, as usual, an armature 1 and-a field winding 2. :;--,As here. ,shown, themotor M,-is operativelyconnected, by suitable means, I not, shown in the: drawing, -w.ith a railway-switch A, butit will be readily. Fun: derstood: that the motor 4 M might be operatively connected with any other suitable formlof; apparatus. V

.Thereference --character E designates; a circuit'controller operated by the switch A and comprising a contact arm 16 and-two contact segments l6 'and 16". The partsof circuit controller E" are so arranged that the arm 16 will engage the contact segment is to close contact 16-16 at all times except when switch A occupies its reverse position; and that the contact arm 16 will engage contact segment 16" to close contact 1616 at all times except when switch A occupies its normal position in which position it is illustrated in the drawing. I v

The motor M is controlled by a motor controller designated in general by the referencecharacter D, which motor controller, in turn, is controlled by the circuit controller E previously described and by a polarized relay The polarized'relay R may be controlled in any suitable-manner as'bypole changing contacts on a switch lever located in a signal tower. v

The motor controller D 'in the form here shown comprises two eontactors C and C". These contactors are exactly alike and each comprises a plunger/i controlled by an energizing winding 3 and operatively connected with two contacts 5 and 6.- The motor controller D also comprises two thermal re 7 relays T lays T and T", each comprising a thermosensitive device which changes its shape in response to changes in its temperature, and a heating element 7 for heating the device. As here shown, each thermo-sensitive device is a bi-metallic strip arranged in such manner that the free end of the strip will deflect downwardly when .the associated .heating element 7 is supplied with current the magnitude of which exceeds the normal operating current for motor M. Each bimetallic strip 8 operates a contact 9 which is normally closed but which is opened when the associated strip is deflected, and

a contact 10 which is normally openbut which becomes closed when the associated strip is deflected.

As shown in the drawing, switch A occupies its normal position and contact 16.16 of circuit controller E is therefore closed, while contact 1616 of circuit controller E is open. Motor M is (lo-energized. Contactors C and C are both tie-energized. Thermal and. T" are also de-energized. Polarized relay R is energized in the normal direction'so that its contact 12l2 is closed.

I will now assume that the tower-man wishes to move switch A from; its normal to its re verse position. -To.do this, he reverses relay B, so that contact 1212 of the relay is opened and contact 12l2 is closed.v Current then flows from terminal B of a suitable source of current, not shown in the drawing, through wires 11 and 11, contact 1212 of polarized relay I 9 of thermal relay T, wire contactor C, wirel, contact 16-1(3 of circuit controller E, and wires 1'? and 18 back to the other terminal X of the source. As a result, contactor C becomes energized, and

.As a result. a cir its normal to its reverse .position. When t-he value of the R, wires 13 and 13?, contact 14, winding 3 of Y w l; 5 c. I if the owerman. now 3151.165 to restore uie switch A to its normal position, lie'ni'a y Clo" so;jhyagjain reyersiugjthe:relatiVa polzr O tiers-current: supplied ;trr -p ohzrizcrl';r-

W'hen he does this, Contact 12l2 of relay ll opens and contact 12-12" -.;C-{i rren t then flows from terminal B of l.

through wires 11 and l lfilcontactl2l2ltdf ill- M monopolies thilrih'ititkh411th a: iammal position. When the switch A real-lies it's filolihz'illiidsifioiig'hoi 16+1o1'cf circuit "co itiroller E tliusf de en'erigizing conand so 'iin'terr'uptiiig the the hit j use tra'cmffofmotor The arts are theiir'estbi'etlltb the positionsin which'the-y are illust'riitlecl in thtliaiv'ing. Y Pt; Whenthes'ivitc'h is being'm'o'ved from 4 oneiextr'eme' position to the other extreme position; the mov'c'nieilt of the switch is arrested before the switch reaches the desired extreme posit-ion flue to soiiie obstruction, the motor current n'illrise' above the normal 45 value', and cause the iii-metallic strip of the thermal'relay which then has its heating element included iii the motor circuit, to deflect a'ndoperate the contacts of the thermal relay. Forexample; if, when'thc switch is 50 being moved from its normal to its reverse position, the movement of the switch is arre stedbefore the switch reaches the full rcver'se' position by someobstruction such as :1 piece of coal or ice, the motor current will 55 rise; an'd s ince the'liezitirig element"! of therr nal rela y'T" isincludc'd in the motor circuit. undenthese" cohtlitioiis" bimetallic strip 8 of thermal relay- TWill deflect downwardly, thereby onening cd'ritact 3 and closing'coiim tact 10 o'f, this relay. Whn' coiitact '9' of thermal they'r -opens, the circuit-over which cont-actor ,(3 i normally, energized, is inter- H, a colitactof C lbe'coii eside-enel i'zd, When. c'bntafctor" 6' becomes I de-efierde-energizes motor M. -When contact. 10 of thermal relay T closes, an auxiliary circuit is completed for contactor C which passes from terminal B of the source, through wires 11,11 ,355 and 34, contact 10 of thermal relay 1%,;wi're's 35 a id-( 26 assets; eathr iiml rela'y'T 'wi'r'e27, windingfiof contact'er C", wire 28;co'ntact 16-16 of: circuitcontroller E,ancl

this auxiliary circuit energi zes contactpr C,

and-thi's-coutactor closes its contacts 5 and. (5

tor (3 is againenergizedand: meme-M therefore moves 's'wit'ch A coward the rever'seposition. Thus it will be seen thatuhtlenthc 'aibox e conditionsg-the switch Will be driven repeatedly from thenormal to vizar'g'llthe" l evelrs'e' position until the' obstruction isfremoved"; or until the towcrman reverses relay R tointerrii fithenormalacii-euit-for contac- 't0i ('3f.- IIY- simila'bf manne -r, when the sii 'itch is beingmoved from the reverse 4 to -t1'1 e'-normaltposition; the nleveniene of; the H 'sw-it'ch is arrested-=before theswitch reaches the full normal position;-th'e' motor current again rises; and since underthese" conditions heating element 7 r ofthermal rela y T isin- "cludedin" the motor circuit, the bi metullic strip 8" of thermal relay T deflects clown war'dly and opens contact9'ancl closes contact 10 of this relay; When contact 9'ot thermal relay T opens, contactor c" becomcs-(le-on ergized'andthus de energize's motorM. When contact 10 of thermal relay T" closes, an auxil-- l iary circuit for contactor C is closed, which circuit passes from terminalBof the source through wires 11, 11, 33'an'cl36, contact-10 of thermal relay T, wires 37 and 13, contact 9 of thermal relay T, wire 1 4, winding fi ot contacto'r C wire 15; contact 161(5*'of c'ircuit controller'E and wires'17 andlS to't'erminal The current-supplied to winding 3'01 'conta'ct'or' C energizes-contactor C, so tli'a't' contacts- 5 "arid 6'01? this" cdnta'citor hecome"- closed.- Mo't-oiM therefore becomes energized and returns the's'witch'AE toit s-reverse position. Wheu the-sWitch reaches the full reverseposition, theaiixiliary'circuit just traced for contactor' C is opened at contact -16 16'ofcircuit-controller E so that this contiicfor be omes cle eiiergize'tL- thereby deenerg'izifig motorM; As nomes-strip 8 of mermair' alay""'1- 'coolsand r'eturns tojt's' n'orrn'alposition theauruiar circuit? for 'co'iigtactor is then opened at contact 10 of therslll'l'iing a first ora second position,: a n electric ;m al rela-y 1T; and the normal circuit for conmotor for operatingsaid device, manually .tactor C .is closed at cont-actt) of thermalirecont-rolledmeens ior supplying. cur-rent to jlay T 4 (glontector Q?- therefore agz in besaid motor to drive said devicefrom saidlirst comes; energized; and completes the circuit position tosaidseconda po'sition, fa thermal m for motorgliisqthat motor M- again mores the ,relayl0[) 1}$ l.\' to the magnitude of {switch A toward -the norni al'positionr;Thus re x 1t, su] 71 flied1to, said nrotor wec itmill' be seenthat under these latter condi- :meanspmitrolledbyseidireley;forg ttimes' vnor'malf irc i i rj e rfii A. .tdcy' cet-Qsa firsti-i i iqn-m mifqu bi-s ldAhepo nted u th t f i e 1 5; In o bin iqn, :d YimP b (H15 suitable indicating apparatus controlled n gaminggfirstpr e second position en elece3 itheins aLnwn -may -P TQY d t s: riemot rr qci pe ati g sa ld n swa 1- mt th e m Po o Q 't switch. 9 that s:sq r ledi-mean io xsfinp lee l r .m wh e the e-w t hs pe a ng in themwner v 9 s i-ii-i ictonm.dr v s id .d vli mm: sai i husfid sqribed gt ej w rmqn will know he .first pitidnj t is -idgs e gi g bjsjtgqi z nd .X= .s .in lti l; 2 .-th wi c tmeans e t z'ef i t e s ump Q sai :ah Oi siz sireil eee fipl pmw embodying imotorz nz r as s a-bove iprsd terxi w ed a; ue" ,my i. v jentroxri hat, :due to repegt-edlback fo lat times de enei g'zingseid.nibtor zindjor vmv dtzfo fflkm m i i I, U i

a t-o e. h, hen. t u s q h ysm at eal y sunp i'ing c witsh e-ipret il o c wl- .rent wt em ti? rete s usa pkl y s g5 i 'lT fipq lt gi he other y 5 Qb 'E C- said first position. I

zmm9 th i b ruetimi1m y b o n w 5.v n omb nation gleiiicegggpgble or as i fiQ-lifi QSK DQ T iQ 91 es k 50 isuming-ai firstprgi seconcl position en electric tlielswi tch cz n-thendm movedto the desired m m; ifQf Qpelfatil lggaid p s. 4 2 1;

51'elayi-:proyided, vit .hfifliil g; e em nt, noth'elaz d entagleof apparatus embodyngnually gong'olled meang, inclydiing qid g -Q h dwibwne. or iQf erve t m o o itml edey i .:r hyiQnp t yws d p it s mithat varie eg i ldz .mqtqr andife -i ub eqnentb' 4X1 ha ge-sa dm fi w sm y. be made automaticallysupplymgcurnent tothe motor --th rei -p i. -hi1. e'sfiqp it pp .torestores .dei'i celto siidfi t'.pb itidn.,; .c lzi-ii s withouudeparting from thespirit and 6,; Ini clon'ilaination,- 11 5' d ibt i i l i l .c peq yii v n n- 4 1; e assuming a firstor a second; position, enelec- =1:iHz vmgttliusdescribed in invention, what t t f qpe t pnnsflld' def' fiea l l Z93 10 118 ma-l relav providedwrtilimheatmg. element, .1.; In combination, a device capable of asualli/ controlledm a i l dj jd V suming a first or a second position, an electric h ti l t fm- 'l i current tQ-said -i -m'otor f0r. o ;eruting said device, .manually motor t d -i id. d i j id ;vfir t;

13?klfif lfi e fifi fi 'f pply g Current to position to said second osition, a co ntat or, 11::

W l 7 Said-:HlOtOl t-Odl'i '3 said device from Stud eans controlled 53 d elayxfo: .position'tosaid second position, and means d i i id, t d f s b p I responsive to the magnitude of the current .1 j i id, t t jngang supplied to said motor for at times v dcff ti h id t t i i d cnergizing said motor and for subsequently f l i c ut r ent tg id motor restore 1 M |vgtutumaticully'suppiyingicurrent to the motor d d i t id fi t iti H to restore said device to said first position. I bi ati a d i 'ibk ,f- 2.;- in combination. a device capable of asfilming a fi t d j iti an l t i eumiuga first. or a second position .-an electric t-offer oper-ati aidd i 341133113113- rtfl'i 11130101 P F-g 1? controlled ,relay-i.provided with a contact, so "u controll means l l y g 'mean's fors pplyingsaid v notolnwith current said motor to drive said device from saidjfiisth id t ti l d 11 d i a iddeposition to said/second posit-ion, a thermal .viee from said;first,position to seid second ;rel ay responsii'e to the magnitude 'ofthe curp oSitiQn-, .a d qa set perati nfiif the 61;erentsu aplied.to saidjmotor, and means conc tsli d t id, t r increases U l trolled by said relay for at times dc-energizaboygega predetermined alue when-said dcing .said-,motor and for subsequentlyautovice occupies an intermediate position 'for u'mtioally supplying current to Zsaid motor-Io causinggsg dmqtor to repeatedly; dr1ves: 1 d

'lSiIOlGSZLid device to said first position; device from such intermediate-position to gts 25 ---3i In combination, adevice capableofl-asfirst posit-ionand;back- ;S fi gi fifi dia ond strip, a second normally closed contact which opens when said second strip becomes heated, and a second normally open contact which closes when said second strip becomes heated; a first and second winding, means controlled by said first winding and including said first heating element for at times supplying said motor with current to drive said device from said second position to said first position, means controlled by said second winding and including said second heating element for at other times supplying said motor with current to drive said device from said first position to said second position, a first circuit for said first winding including said first normally closed contact, a second circuit for said first winding including said first normally closed contact and said second normally open contact, a first circuit for said second winding including said second normally closed contact, and a second circuit for said second winding including said second normally closed contact and said first normally open contact.

13. In combination, a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, an elec tric motor operatively connected with said switch, a first and a second winding, a first and second thermal relay each provided with a heating element and each having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact, means controlled by said first winding and including the heating element of said first relay for at times supplying said mo tor with current to drive said switch from its normal position to its reverse position, means controlled by said second winding and including the heating element of said second relay for at other times supplying said motor with current to drive said switch from its reverse position to its normal position. a circuit controller connected with said switch and having a first contact which is closed at all times except when said switch occupies its reverse position and a second contact which is closed at all times except when said switch occupies its normal position, a first circuit for said first winding including the first contact of said circuit controller and the normally closed contact of said 1 st thermal relay; a second circuit for said first winding including the first contact of said circuit controller, the normally closed contact of said first thermal relay, and the normally open contact of said second thermal relay; a first circuit for said second winding including the second contact of said circuit controller and the normally closed contact of said second thermal relay; and a second circuit for said second winding including the second contact of said circuit controller, the normally closed contact of said second thermal relay and the normally open contact of said first thermal relay.

1 1. In combination, a railway switch having a normal and a reverse position, an electric motor for operating said switch; a first thermal relay comprising a first bi-metallic strip which deflects when heated, a first heating element for heating said first strip, a first normally closed contact which opens when said first strip becomes heated, and a first normally open contact which closes when said first strip becomes heated; a second thermal relay comprising a second bi-metallic strip which deflects when heated, a second heating element for heating said second strip, asecond normally closed contact which opens when said second strip becomes heated, and a second normally open contact which becomes closed when said second strip becomes heated; a first contactor comprising a first winding and a third and fourth contact controlled by said first winding, a second contactor comprising a second winding and a fifth and sixth contact controlled by said second Winding, a circuit controller connected with said switch and having a seventh contact which is closed at all times except when said switch occupies its reverse position and an eighth contact which is closed at all times except when said switch occupies its normal position, means controlled by said third and fourth contacts and including said first heating element for supplying said motor with current to drive said switch from its normal to its reverse position, means controlled by said fifth and sixth contacts and including said second heating element for supplying said motor with current to drive said switch from its reverse to its normal position; a manually controlled polarized relay, a first circuit for said first winding including a contact of said polarized relay, said seventh contact, and said first normally closed contact; a second circuit for said first winding including said seventh contact, said first normally closed contact, and said second normally open contact; a first circuit for said second winding including said eighth contact, said second normally closed contact, and a contact of said polarized relay; and a second circuit for said second Winding including said eighth contact, said second normally closed contact, and said first normally open contact.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BERNARD E. OHAGAN. 

